Liquid measuring and dispensing bottle closure device

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an improved liquid measuring and dispensing closure device having axial symmetry and including a tubular body with an internal lock chamber which communicates with the interior of the bottle by way of a narrow coaxial vent tube, the lock chamber also communicating by way of an annular aperture with a first annular coaxial passage which connects the interior of the bottle with a pouring opening. During pouring liquid flows into the lock chamber through a second annular coaxial passage, narrower than the first, and also through the pouring opening until the liquid in the lock chamber closes off the vent tube, direct flow of air into the bottle through the first passage being prevented, and the axial symmetry of the stopper permitting its effective use in any orientation of the bottle.

United States Patent [is] 3,707,247 Guala [4 1 Dec. 26, 1972 [54] LIQUIDMEASURING AND 3,081,008 3/1963 Hestier ..222/416 DISPENSING BOTTLECLOSURE DEVICE lnventor: Piergiacomo ltaly Societa Angelo Guala diPierglacomo Guala, Alessandria,

Assignee:

E. Roberto Guala & C. S.a.S., Aies-,

sandria, Italy Filed: Sept. 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 182,497

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 23, 1970 Italy ....70l89 A/70July 16, 1971 Italy ..69408 A/7i US. Cl. ..222/188, 222/416, 222/454References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1940 Stringfellow ..222/188Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry MartinAttorney-Richard C. Sughrue et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Thisinvention provides an improved liquid measuring anddispensing closure device having axial symmetry and including a tubularbody with an internal lock chamber which communicates with the interiorof the bottle by way of a narrow coaxial vent tube, the lock chamberalso communicating by way of an annular aperture with a first annularcoaxial passage which connects the interior of the bottle with a pouringopening. During pouring liquid flows into the lock chamber through asecond annular coaxial passage, narrower than the first, and alsothrough the pouring opening until the liquid in the lock chamber closesoff the vent tube, direct flow of air into the bottle through the firstpassage being prevented, and the axial symmetry of the stopperpermitting its effective use in any orientation of the bottle.

PATENTED m 2 s 1972 SHEET 1 0F 3 PATENTED E 2 6 I972 SHEET 3 BF 3 FEB. 9

FIG. 8

LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING BOTTLE CLQSURE DEVICE This inventionrelates to measuring and dispensing bottle closure devices.

Two basic types of measuring and dispensing closure devices or stoppersareknown, these having in common a lock chamber communicating with avent tube which extends into'the bottle for letting air into the latter.Pouring out of liquid from the bottle is stopped automatically byhydraulic closing of the vent tube, after the contents of the lockchamber have been dispensed, whereupon the lock chamber refills withliquid.

One known type of measuring and dispensing closure device, exemplifiedby U.S. Patent specification No. 2,208,862 and French Patentspecification No. 995,650 has a vent tube which extends into acollection chamber for the liquid poured out, communicating with anoutlet opening-the cross section of which is less than the aperturewhich communicates with .the interior of the bottle and whichcommunicates with the atmosphere through another aperture; the vent tubeleads into a separate lock chamber located within the collection chamberand connected to the latter in such manner that the liquid commences toflow into the vent tube after having filled a portion of the collectionchamber.

A second known type of measuring and dispensing closure device, withwhich the present invention is particularly concerned, exemplified by DB P No. 1,152,910 has a body adapted to fit into the neck of the bottleand provided with an opening for pouring out the liquid, a lock chambercommunicating with the atmosphere into which one end of a vent tubepenetrates for admitting air into the bottle during pouring, a firstpassage in the body for connecting the interior of the bottle with thesaid pouring opening, and a second passage of smaller cross section forconnecting the inside of the bottle with the lock chamber, wherebyduring pouring the liquid flows into the lock chamber and through thepouring opening, until the liquid which collects in the lock chamberbrings about hydraulic closure of the vent tube, preventing further airfrom entering the bottle, means being provided to prevent flow of airinto the bottle through the first passage.

Measuring and dispensing closure devices or stoppers of the second typewill be referred to herein as measuring and dispensing closure devicesof the type described.

Measuring and dispensing closure devices of the type described have thefollowing advantages in relation to those of the first-mentioned type:

i l. a shorter pouring-out time for a given measured quantity to bepoured;

2. pouring-out times do not vary according to the angle of the bottleduring pouring;

3. lesser overall size for a given measured quantity and performance.

The measuring and dispensing closure device of the type described hasthe disadvantage that its performance varies with the orientation of thebottle around its own axis, obliging the user to pay particularattention at every pouring-out to the orientation of the bottle. Thismilitates against swift service, and could leave the way open to fraudat the customers expense.

Secondly, the measuring and dispensing closure device of the typedescribed is not suitable for industrial mass production.

An object of the present invention is to provide a measuring anddispensing closure device of the type described which is capable ofsupplying precise measures of liquid irrespective of the orientation ofthe bottle upon its axis during-pouring of liquid'therefrom.

' The present invention provides a solution to this problem by providingall the component elements of the measuring and dispensing closuredevice with substantial axial symmetry with respectto its longitudinalcentral axis.

More particularly, theinvention provides a measuring and dispensingclosure device for bottles, comprising a-tubular body having axialsymmetry, a vent tube coaxial with said body and adapted to extendinto abottle to admit air into the latter, said vent tube communicating with acoaxial lock chamber within said body which communicates by way of anannular aperture coaxially surrounding the vent tube with a firstannular passage adapted to connect the interior of the bottle to apouring opening, a second annular passage, of smaller cross-section thanthe first passage, adapted to connect the interior of the bottle withthe lock chamber, said first and second annular passages beingcoaxialwith the body, and means in the annular space between the bodyand the vent tube for preventing flow of air into the bottle through thefirst passage, whereby during pouring liquid flows from the bottle intothe lock chamber and also through the pouring opening,

until the vent tube is closed by liquid in the lock' chamber to preventfurther air from entering the bottle.

The invention will be further described, by way of non-limiting example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic axial section of a measuring and dispensingclosure device according to one em bodiment of the invention, fitted tothe neck of a bottle;

FIG. 2 shows the closure device and the bottle of FIG. 1 in an inclinedpouring-out position;

FIGS. 3, 4 and S are diagrammatic axial sections of closure devicesaccording to three different variants of the embodiment of FIG. 1',

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic axial section of a measuring and dispensingclosure device for bottles according to another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic partial axial section of a closure deviceaccording to a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along the line VIII- VIII of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic partial axial section of a closure deviceaccording to another variant of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

The same reference numerals are used throughout to denote the same orcorresponding component parts in the various embodiments.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown the neck 1 of a bottle havingan external annular rim 1a to which is affixed, for example by means ofaclaw clip 2, a measuring and dispensing closure device according to theinvention.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the measuring anddispensing closure device consists of a hollow cylindrical body 3 whichfits into the neck 1 and projects outwardly therefrom. The body 3 has anexternal annular flange 4 which when the closure device is fitted isengaged by the claw clip 2 and held thereby against the mouth of thebottle 1.

The outwardly projectingpart of the body 3 has a narrow portion 5 ofrelatively small diameter terminating at its outer end in a shaped,drip-catching annular lip 6. the inner end of the body 3 is closed by anannular transverse wall 7 which carries a tube 8 coaxial with the body 3and extending inside the latter. I

Within the narrow portion 5 of the body 3 there is supported, by meansof radial guide vanes 9, a cylindrical wall 10 coaxial with the body3which projects out wardly beyond the annular lip 6 and carries at itsouter end a circular cover plate 11. The plate 11 has a larger diameter.than the wall 10, its peripheral portion being spaced from the annularlip 6 and forming with. the latter'an annular pouring opening.The'cylindrical wall 10 terminates at its inner end within the body 3 ina frusto-conical portion 12 having a central aperture 13.

The wall 10, with the frusto-conical portion 12 and the plate 1 1,defines a lock chamber A. A small diameter vent tube. 14 enters thechamber A through the aperture l3, with radial clearance therein. Thepurpose of the vent tube 14 is to permit air to enter the bottle duringpouring-out of the liquid, the latter flowing out through the annularclearance space in the opening 13 surrounding the tube 14 and coaxialtherewith.

Within the hollow body 3, inwardly of the opening 13, there is placed anelement 15 having a hollow cylindrical portion 16, coaxial with the body3, which extends almost to the transverse wall 7. The portion 16 isformed with a frusto-conical outer end portion 17 carrying an internaltube 18 which extends with radial clearance coaxially within the tube 8borne by the wall 7 and surrounds coaxially with radial clearance thevent tube .14. The tube 18 terminates at its inner end in a flared mouth19 inwardly of the wall 7. The element 15 forms, together with the tube8 and the transverse wall 7, a syphon devicewhich forms part ofa firstannular passage, coaxial with the body 3, through which liquid flowsfrom the bottle during pouring-out, and through which liquid-remainingin the'closure device flows to return to the bottle when the latterresumes the upright position. Between the vent tube 14 and thesurrounding tube 18, there are interposed longitudinal spacing fins,(not shown), borne by at least one of the tubes, which ensure andmaintain the coaxiality of the said tubes.

An annular dispensing chamber B forming part of the first annularpassage is defined within the body 3 between the wall 10, the element 15and the internal surface of the body 3'.

The tube 18 and the vent tube 14 together define a second annularpassage coaxial with the body 3 and of smaller cross-section than thefirst passage, for conveying liquid from the bottle to the lock chamberA.

When the bottle is tipped to pour out measure of liquid, as illustratedin FIG. 2, then liquid from the bottle fills the hollow portion 16 ofthe syphon device and fills the annular dispensing chamber B within thebody 3, from which the liquid pours out through the lower part of theannular pouring opening defined between the lip 6 and the cover plate11, as indicated by black arrows in FIG. 1. A volume of air which isequal to the volume of liquid poured out enters the chamber B throughthe upper part of the pouring opening and enters the lock chamber Athrough the opening 13, as indicated by white arrows in FIG. 1. From thelock chamber A the air enters the bottle through the vent tube 14.

During this time a portion of the liquid also flows from the bottlethrough the second annular passage between the tubes 14 and 18 and fromthe chamber B through the opening 13, and starts to fill the lockchamber A. After a predetermined time the rising liquid in the lockchamber A cuts off the flow of air into the'bottle through the vent tube14 and, therefore, the

pouring-out of the liquid: this occurs when the liquid in the chamber Areaches the within the chamber A.

The shape and size of the lock chamber Aand the position of the venttube 14 therein are such as to render the time taken for the partialfilling of the chamber A' necessary to block the vent tube 14independent of the angle'of tilt of the bottle, so that the lock chamberA acts as a timing device. Consequently the measure of liquid poured-outis always the same and is influenced neither by the angle of tilt of thebottle, nor by the orientation of the bottle about its axis (the closuredevice being symmetrical about its axis). Moreover, the measuredispensed is independent of the amount of liquid left in the bottle,provided, of course, this is always greater than the measure inquestion.

In the tilted pouring position (FIG. 2) after pouringout of the liquidhas ceased, air cannot enter the bottle, since any bubbles of airentering the chamber Bare stopped by the wall 7 and collect within thebody 3. Thus the measure of liquid poured-out cannot be in fluenced bythe accidental ingress of air.

When the bottle is returned to the upright position after pouring-out ofthe measured quantity of liquid, the liquid which occupied the lockchamber A passes through the opening 13 into the chamber B and returnsvia the syphon device into the interior of the bottle, as indicated bythe arrows in FIG. 1. Any drops of liquid which are left on the wall 7will be poured-out directly when the next pouring-out operation takesplace, without being able to return to the lock chamber A and affect theoperation thereof.

The measuring and dispensing closure device described moreover rendersany fraudulent filling of the bottle extremely difficult, since anyattempt to introduce liquid from the outside into the closure devicecauses both the first passage for the liquid and also the vent tube 14to be simultaneously obstructed, preventing the flow of air out of thebottle and therefore filling of the bottle.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 3, the measuring and dispensingclosure device comprises a similar tubular body 3a having an annularflange 4a a lock chamber A end of the vent tube 14 having a cylindricalwall 10a closed at its outer end by .a

cover plate 11a and connected to a narrow portion 5a of the body 30 bymeans of radial guide vanes 9a. The vanes 9a define an annular array ofapertures in the annular space between the portion 5a and the wall 10a.The lock chamber A is defined by the cylindricalwall 10a, which has atits inner end a frusto-conical portion 12a terminating in an opening130.

The interior of the bottle -,is separated from the dispensing chamber Bby an intermediate annular wall integral with a tubular wall 21coaxially surrounding a vent tube 14 which passes with radial clearancethrough a frusto-conical portion 22 at the outer end of the wall 21,forming the second annular passage of the device. An annular externalflange 24 is provided at the junction of the wall 21 and the largerdiameter end of the frusto-conical portion 22.

The annular wall 20 has a number of holes 23 inclined to the axis of thetubular wall 21 at the junction between the said wall 21 and the annularwall 20, and forming part of the first annular passage of the device.

lnwardly of the wall 20 a series of parallel transverse diaphragms 25,integral with the vent tube 14, is provided. The diaphragms alternatewith other diaphragms 26 integral with the body 3 to create a labyrinthpassage intended to prevent the entrance of air into the bottle duringpouring.

Operation of the measuring and dispensing closure device of FIG. 3 issimilar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that recoveryof the liquid from the dispensing chamber B is brought about by gravitythrough theholes 23. During pouring-out air cannot pass from thedispensing chamber B'into the interior of the bottle because thelabyrinth passage formed by the diaphragms 25 restricts the upward flowof air.

In the variant illustrated in FlG. 4 the measuring and dispensingclosure device has a hollow body 3b with a narrow outer portion 5bhaving an external lip 6b. A lock chamber A is defined within acylindrical wall 10b connected to the body 3b by radial guide vanes 9b;the lock chamber A is closed by a circular cover plate 11b and itscylindrical wall 10b terminates at its inner end in a frusto-conicalinwardly tapering portion 12b having a central opening 13b coaxiallysurrounding a vent tube 14 with radial clearance.

A frusto-conical diaphragm 27 integral with the body 3b is locatedadjacent the opening 13b. At its wider end the diaphragm 27 has a numberof openings 29 forming part of the first passage of the device and atits narrower end the diaphragm 27 is connected to a tubular portion 28which surrounds the vent tube 14, penetrating partly into the lockchamber A through the opening 13b and forming the second annularpassage. The diaphragm 27 has an axially inwardly projecting tubularportion 30 terminating in a flared mouth 31. In-, wardly of the mouth 31the body 3b is provided with two annular transverse walls 32 and 33,spaced apart axially, between which is situated a body 34 coaxial withthe vent tube 14 provided with helicoidal guide vanes 35 defining anumber of helical passages 36 between the body 34 and the internalsurface of the hollow stopper body 3b. The passages 36 are designed toprevent the free passage of air into the bottle during pouring.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 5, the closure device has a tubularbody 3c provided with an annular flange by which it is held on the neck1 of a bottle, using a clip 2. The body 30 is disposed wholly outsidethe bottle, having an outer narrow portion provided with a drip-catchinglip 6c. A number of radial guide vanes 90 connects a cylindrical wall10c of a lock chamber A to the body 3c, the wall 100 being coaxial withthe body 3c and terminating at its outer end in a circular cover plate 110 having a central breather hole 52.

The inner end of the cylindrical wall fits over an annular appendage 37of an annular transverse wall 38 the radially inner edge of which isintegral with a tubular portion 39 which coaxially surrounds a vent tube14 and which terminates at its inner end in an internal annular flange40. The flange 40 is connected to a tube 41 having a flared mouth 42 atits inner end, which projects into the bottle, beyond the flange 40. Ashort tubular element 43 is interposed between and coaxial with thetubular portion 39 and the tube 41, and is provided at its end remotefrom the flange 40 with a transverse diaphragm 44 fixed tothe vent tube14, thereby forming a syphon device which allows emptying and filling ofthe lock chamber A.

An annular dispensing chamber B is defined within the tubular body 3cbetween the internalsurface of the latter and a coaxial tubular wall 45integral with the radially outer edge of the transverse wall 38. Theinterior of the bottle is separated from the-chamber B by anintermediate wall 47 the peripheral portion of which is clamped betweenthe flange 4c of the body 3c and a rim 1a on the neck of the bottle. Theintermediate wall 47 is integral with an intermediate tubular wall 46interposed coaxially between the tubular wall 45 and the tubular portion39 connected to the transverse wall 38. Between the tubular walls 45 and46 there extend one or more helicoidal guide vanes 48, single ormulti-start, which define one or more helicalchannels 49 which place thedispensing chamber B in communication with the annular space 51 betweenthe tubular wall 46 and the tubular portion 39, by way of vents 50 inthe tubular wall 46. The helical channels 49 define a syphon passagebetween the chamber B and the interior of the bottle, preventing flow ofair into the bottle. I

The syphon emptying of the lock chamber A is made possible by a breatheropening 52 in the cover plate of this chamber A. In this case, as in thepreviously described embodiments, themeasuring and dispensing closuredevice prevents fraudulent refilling of the bottle by preventing theentry of liquid into the bottle from the outside even when the bottle isupright.

The measuring and dispensing closure device according to the embodimentillustrated in FlG. 6 comprises a tubular body 3d, having an annulartransverse wall 7d adapted to be sealed on to the mouth of a bottle byknown means. This body 3d has at'its outer end a narrow portion 5asurmounted by a drip-catching lip 6d. A lock chamber A is defined withinthe body 3d by a cylindrical wall 10d, closed at its outer end by acover plate 11d and connected by means of radial guide vanes 9d to thenarrow portion 5d. The vanes 9d form an annular array of openingscommunicating with a dispensing chamber B defined between thecylindrical wall 10d and the internal surface of the hollow body 3d. Thewall 10d has at its inner end a radially inwardly tapering portion 12dterminating in an annular opening 13d coaxially surrounding a vent tube14 which extends into the bottle along the axis thereof.

The annular wall 7d is connected to an intermediate tubular element 53which extends out into the bottle coaxially with the vent tube 14. Thetubular element 53 is itself surrounded coaxially by an outer tubularelement 54, closed at its inner end by a transverse diaphragmSS. The twotubular elements 53 and 54 are connected together by radial fins 56 andthey form a syphon device through which liquid from the bottle passesinto the dispensing chamber B and thence to the outlet openings betweenthe guide vanes 9d. Onthe inside of the said syphon device is placed asmall tube 57, which surrounds coaxially the vent tube 14, and is closedat its outer and inner ends by two diaphragms, 60 and 58 respectivelyconnecting the tube 57 to the tube 14. Next to each diaphragm 60, 58there is placed a ring of radial openings 61, 59 respectively whichallow the liquid held in the bottle to reach the lock chamber Adirectly, without being affected by other liquid or air flows.

.The outer diaphragm 60,'placed near the outer end of the vent tube 14,projects radially beyond the outer diameter of the tube 57, so as toshield the entry of air against liquid entering the lock chamber A. Theopenings 61 adjacent the outer diaphragm 60 alsoensure a more uniformfilling of the lock chamber A independently of the degree of filling ofthe bottle and of its angle of tilt. I Y

The tube 57 has intermediate its ends an external annular flange 62,situated within the dispensing chamber 8, with the purpose of divertingliquid from the entrance opening 13d of the lock chamber A in thepouring-out phase and of avoiding interference between the two currentsof liquid. I

In the embodiment illustrated in FlGS. 7 and 8 the transverse wall 7d ofthe hollow body 3d is connected to inner and outer coaxial tubularelements 63 and 64 both closed by one single inner end wall 65, which isalso connected to the tube 57 surrounding the vent tube 14. Two radialapertures 66, 67 are provided, in axially staggered relation, in thetubular elements 64, 63 respectively. The apertures 66, 67 are separatedby a radially and axially extending partition 68 (FIG. 8) so as to forma spiral labyrinth passage which takes the place of the syphon devicepreviously mentioned, thereby forming an air lock when the lock chamberA is full.

in the variant of the embodiment of H08. 7 and illustrated in FIG. 9 thetransverse wall 7d of the hollow body 3d is connected, as in theembodiment of FIGS. 6, to a tubular element 53 which is coaxial with andsurrounds the two tubes 14, 57; a second tubular element 54, closed atits inner end by an end wall 5, coaxially surrounds the tubular element53 and forms therewith an inner syphon device. The two elements 53, 54are surrounded coaxially by a further tubular element 69 connected tothe transverse wall 7d and open at its inner end. Between the outermosttubular element 69 and the tubular element 54 which is immediatelyenclosed therein, a helicoidal wall 70 is disposed. The wall 70 forms aspirally shaped labyrinth combined with the radially inner syphondevice. This embodiment of the invention is particularly advantageousfor dispensing measured quantities with slight tilting of the bottle.

In each one of the operational embodiments herein described the closuredevice according to the invention has the main requirements needed forsatisfactory operation: that is, it dispenses consistently equalpredetermined measures. The measure dispensed is unaffected by the tiltof the bottle, by the amount of liquid which remains in the said bottle(provided of course this exceeds the volume of said measure), and by thedirection of the tilt and speed of emptying of the lock chamber, therebyallowing successive measures to be poured out with the greatest possiblefrequency.

I claim:

l. A liquid measuring and dispensing bottle closure device comprising abody adapted to fit into the neck of a bottle and provided with apouring opening, a first passage in the body for connecting the interiorof the bottle with said pouring opening, a second passage of smallercross section than the first passage for connecting the interior of saidbottle with a lock chamber, whereby during pouring the liquid flows intothe lock chamber and also through the pouring opening, until the liquidwhich collects in the lock chamber closes off a vent tube, preventingfurther air from entering the bottle, and means preventing flow of airinto the bottle through the first passage, wherein the improvementconsists in that:

a. said body is axially symmetrical;

b. said vent tube is coaxial with said body;

0. said lock chamber is coaxial with the vent tube and communicates withsaid first passage connected to the pouring opening by means of anannular apertime which coaxially surrounds said vent tube;

d. said first and second passages are annular and coaxial with saidbody, and

e. said means for preventing the flow of air into the bottle through thefirst passage are disposed in the annular space enclosed between saidbody and said vent tube.

2. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lockchamber communicates with the atmosphere during pouring of liquid fromthe bottle through part of a liquid dispensing chamber, which forms partof the said first passage, adjacent said annular pouring opening.

3. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1, including a syphondevice in said body through which the interior of the bottle and thepouring opening communicate.

4. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the syphondevice is constituted by helicoidal vanes defining at least one passageand adapted to prevent the direct entry of air into the bottle duringpouring-out of liquid.

5. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forpreventing the flow of air into the bottle through the first passageconsist of a plurality of transverse diaphragms integral with the body.

6. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1, including at least onetransverse diaphragm having therein openings through which liquid maypass in both directions under the influence of gravity, said diaphragmseparating the interior of the bottle from a liquid dispensing chamberforming part of the first passage.

7 Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1 including syphon passagescoaxial with the vent tube through which emptying and filling of thelock chamber take place.

8. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1, including a second tube,coaxially surrounding the vent tube, for conveying liquid into the lockchamber, a transverse diaphragm defining part of a labyrinth passage,included in said first passage, through which liquid from the bottlepasses in the pouring phase, respective diaphragms closing said secondtube at its two ends, and means defining respective rings of radialopenings near said diaphragms, said openings being situated respectivelynear the outer end of the vent tube and near said transverse labyrinthpassage-defining diaphragm.

9. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second tubesurrounding the vent tube is provided intermediate its ends with anexternal annular flange adapted to protect the lock chamber from inflowof the poured-out liquid.

10. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, a transverse wall atthe inner end ofa dispensing chamber forming part of the first passage,and a syphon device integral with said transverse wall.

11. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, including a dispensingchamber in said first passage, a transverse wall at the inner end ofsaid dispensing chamber, said labyrinth passage being defined in atubular body integral with said transverse wall and housing two coaxialtubular elements having apertures at different axial positions with aradially and axially extending partition separating said apertures inthe annular space between said tubular elements.

12. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, including a dispensingchamber in said first passage, a transverse wall at the inner end ofsaid dispensing chamber, a syphon device integral with said transversewall and a spiral labyrinth passage combined with said syphon device.

1. A liquid measuring and dispensing bottle closure device comprising abody adapted to fit into the neck of a bottle and provided with apouring opening, a first passage in the body for connecting the interiorof the bottle with said pouring opening, a second passage of smallercross section than the first passage for connecting the interior of saidbottle with a lock chamber, whereby during pouring the liquid flows intothe lock chamber and also through the pouring opening, until the liquidwhich collects in the lock chamber closes off a vent tube, preventingfurther air from entering the bottle, and means preventing flow of airinto the bottle through the first passage, wherein the improvementconsists in that: a. said body is axially symmetrical; b. said vent tubeis coaxial with said body; c. said lock chamber is coaxial with the venttube and communicates with said first passage connected to the pouringopening by means of an annular aperture which coaxially surrounds saidvent tube; d. said first and second passages are annular and coaxialwith said body, and e. said means for preventing the flow of air intothe bottle through the first passage are disposed in the annular spaceenclosed between said body and said vent tube.
 2. Bottle closure deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock chamber communicates with theatmosphere during pouring of liquid from the bottle through part of aliquid dispensing chamber, which forms part of the said first passage,adjacent said annular pouring opening.
 3. Bottle closure device asclaimed in claim 1, including a syphon device in said body through whichthe interior of the bottle and the pouring opening communicate. 4.Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the syphon deviceis constituted by helicoidal vanes defining at least one passage andadapted to prevent the direct entry of air into the bottle duringpouring-out of liquid.
 5. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the means for preventing the flow of air into the bottle throughthe first passage consist of a plurality of transverse diaphragmsintegral with the body.
 6. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1,including at least one transverse diaphragm having therein openingsthrough which liquid may pass in both directions under the influence ofgravity, said diaphragm separating the interior of the bottle from aliquid dispensing chamber forming part of the first passage.
 7. Bottleclosure device as claimed in claim 1, including syphon passages coaxialwith the vent tube through which emptying and fillIng of the lockchamber take place.
 8. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 1,including a second tube, coaxially surrounding the vent tube, forconveying liquid into the lock chamber, a transverse diaphragm definingpart of a labyrinth passage, included in said first passage, throughwhich liquid from the bottle passes in the pouring phase, respectivediaphragms closing said second tube at its two ends, and means definingrespective rings of radial openings near said diaphragms, said openingsbeing situated respectively near the outer end of the vent tube and nearsaid transverse labyrinth passage-defining diaphragm.
 9. Bottle closuredevice as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second tube surrounding thevent tube is provided intermediate its ends with an external annularflange adapted to protect the lock chamber from inflow of the poured-outliquid.
 10. Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, a transversewall at the inner end of a dispensing chamber forming part of the firstpassage, and a syphon device integral with said transverse wall. 11.Bottle closure device as claimed in claim 8, including a dispensingchamber in said first passage, a transverse wall at the inner end ofsaid dispensing chamber, said labyrinth passage being defined in atubular body integral with said transverse wall and housing two coaxialtubular elements having apertures at different axial positions with aradially and axially extending partition separating said apertures inthe annular space between said tubular elements.
 12. Bottle closuredevice as claimed in claim 8, including a dispensing chamber in saidfirst passage, a transverse wall at the inner end of said dispensingchamber, a syphon device integral with said transverse wall and a spirallabyrinth passage combined with said syphon device.